Difference between revisions of "Ritz Camera"
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| − | '''Ritz Camera''' was a former chain of camera stores based in the United States. From their 1936 roots in the Washington, DC, area,<ref> Ritz national advertising beginning c.1954 names five locations: Two in DC, two in Baltimore, one in Philadelphia.</ref> Ritz and their sub-brands eventually grew to be the largest photo retail chain in the country, peaking around 1,200 stores. Ritz locations combined equipment sales with (higher-margin) photofinishing, a winning formula to keep customers visiting. In addition much of their growth came from acquisitions, notably of their major competitor Wolf Camera, as well as Kits Camera, Inkley’s, Proex, and The Camera Shop. | + | '''Ritz Camera''' was a former chain of camera stores based in the United States. From their 1936 roots in the Washington, DC, area,<ref> Ritz national advertising beginning c.1954 names five locations: Two in DC, two in Baltimore, one in Philadelphia.</ref> Ritz and their sub-brands eventually grew to be the largest photo retail chain in the country, peaking around 1,200 stores. Ritz locations combined equipment sales with (higher-margin) photofinishing, a winning formula to keep customers visiting. In addition much of their growth (led by 2nd-generation David Ritz) came from acquisitions, notably of their major competitor Wolf Camera,<ref>A pre-merger [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1999/11/22/still-on-a-roll-at-ritz/b3150151-11dd-4de9-b63d-09859187bb3e/ 1999 ''Washington Post'' profile about Ritz's growth phase] notes that the Ritz and Wolf families are relatives.</ref> as well as Kits Camera, Inkley’s, Proex, and The Camera Shop. |
They used the private label brands '''Quantaray''' and '''Dakota'''. '''Ray Enterprises Inc.''' was also a name used by the company. In the 1990's they worked with various camera manufactures like [[Minolta]] and provided exclusive distribution of cameras with features like panorama and date backs, that were not available to other distributors in the US. Cameras rebadged using the Quantaray name appeared in 1984.<ref>See the Ritz Camera ad on page 130 of [https://books.google.com/books?id=ydhpDL1Tlh0C&lpg=PP1&vq=Ritz&dq=Ritz&pg=PA130#v=onepage&q=%22Ritz%20Camera%20Outlet%22&f=false the Sept. 1984 ''Popular Photography''], via [https://books.google.com/books Google Books].</ref> | They used the private label brands '''Quantaray''' and '''Dakota'''. '''Ray Enterprises Inc.''' was also a name used by the company. In the 1990's they worked with various camera manufactures like [[Minolta]] and provided exclusive distribution of cameras with features like panorama and date backs, that were not available to other distributors in the US. Cameras rebadged using the Quantaray name appeared in 1984.<ref>See the Ritz Camera ad on page 130 of [https://books.google.com/books?id=ydhpDL1Tlh0C&lpg=PP1&vq=Ritz&dq=Ritz&pg=PA130#v=onepage&q=%22Ritz%20Camera%20Outlet%22&f=false the Sept. 1984 ''Popular Photography''], via [https://books.google.com/books Google Books].</ref> | ||
Revision as of 15:08, 6 December 2022
Ritz Camera was a former chain of camera stores based in the United States. From their 1936 roots in the Washington, DC, area,[1] Ritz and their sub-brands eventually grew to be the largest photo retail chain in the country, peaking around 1,200 stores. Ritz locations combined equipment sales with (higher-margin) photofinishing, a winning formula to keep customers visiting. In addition much of their growth (led by 2nd-generation David Ritz) came from acquisitions, notably of their major competitor Wolf Camera,[2] as well as Kits Camera, Inkley’s, Proex, and The Camera Shop.
They used the private label brands Quantaray and Dakota. Ray Enterprises Inc. was also a name used by the company. In the 1990's they worked with various camera manufactures like Minolta and provided exclusive distribution of cameras with features like panorama and date backs, that were not available to other distributors in the US. Cameras rebadged using the Quantaray name appeared in 1984.[3]
They filed for bankruptcy in February 2009. David Ritz with other investors under the name RCI (Ritz Camera Image) acquired the company. This caused major issues with creditors after reorganizing and closing half the stores. This reorganized company also struggled and the entire chain was liquidated in 2012.[4] Some assets (including a handful of stores and the online sales division ritzcamera.com) were acquired by C+A Global; but the final brick-and-mortar storefront (in Bethesda, Maryland) closed in 2018.[5]
Cameras
Film
- Dakota Dazzle
- Dakota RZ-4 Motordrive
- Dakota RZ-6 Motordrive
- Dakota RZ-8 Motordrive
- Dakota RZ-12
- Dakota RZ-2000 SLR
- Dakota RZ-3000 SLR
- Dakota MY-1
- Quantaray Clamshell 35
- Quantaray AFEL
- Quantaray R 400 SLR (Cosina CT-20)
- Quantaray Delta D2-RZ
- Quantaray RZ 800 SLR (Cosina CT-7)
Exclusive distribution
- Minolta SR-T 201 (black body w rubber waffle leatherette)
- Minolta RZ 300si
- Minolta RZ 330si
- Minolta RZ 400si
- Minolta RZ 430si
- Minolta RZ 530si
Digital
|
| Dakota Digital Single-Use Camera image by Steve Harwood (Image rights) |
- Dakota DCC 9500
- Dakota Digital Single-use Camera
Lenses
|
| Quantaray Tech 10 50mm Macro image by Jim Harvey (Image rights) |
Manual focus (very incomplete)
- Quantaray Auto Macro 55mm f3 - for Canon FD
- Quantaray MC 28mm f2.8 - for Canon FD
- MC Quantaray Auto Zoom 28 to 80mm f3.5-4.5 Macro - for Canon FD
- MC Quantaray Auto Zoom 75 to 200mm f4.5 Macro - for Canon FD
- MC Quantaray Auto Zoom 85 to 210mm f3.8 Macro - for Canon FD, Olympus OM
Autofocus
- Zooms for Minolta, Canon, Nikon, and Pentax AF mounts, sometimes under "Tech-10" branding
Notes
- ↑ Ritz national advertising beginning c.1954 names five locations: Two in DC, two in Baltimore, one in Philadelphia.
- ↑ A pre-merger 1999 Washington Post profile about Ritz's growth phase notes that the Ritz and Wolf families are relatives.
- ↑ See the Ritz Camera ad on page 130 of the Sept. 1984 Popular Photography, via Google Books.
- ↑ "Ritz Camera & Image to Liquidate, Website & Some Stores Acquired by C&A Marketing" Sept. 10, 2012, from Digital Imaging Reporter.
- ↑ "Ritz Camera Closes This Week in Bethesda" May 1st, 2018, Bethesda Magazine.
